News stories tagged with "elections"

(02/02/12) Governor Cuomo says the possibility of three primary elections in New York this year is not in anyone's best interest.

A federal judge has already ruled that congressional primaries must be held June 26. While Assembly Democrats would like statewide primaries to also be held on that date, Senate Republicans prefer an August primary.

If no action is taken, the statewide primaries will automatically fall on September 11 this year. The presidential primary is in April. In Albany, Karen DeWitt reports. more

(03/23/11) Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty presented the Conservative Government's proposed budget to Parliament Tuesday afternoon. All three opposition parties immediately announced they will not support it - which could force a federal election this Spring. Should a no-confidence measure pass, Members of Parliament will head back to the polls, in a short election cycle of about 6 weeks duration. Lucy Martin has more. more

(12/15/05) In Iraq, tribal Sheiks are often central figures for the U.S. military. Unit commanders meet often with sheiks to talk about local events and act as a mutual bridge between U.S. soldiers and Iraqis. Lately, a lot of the talk has centered on Thursday's elections. Freelance photojournalist Bill Putnam recently sat in on one such conversation. Captain Adam Lackey of the 101st Airborne Division spoke with a sheik in Bayji, in the area known as the Sunni triangle. Their conversation was far-ranging, from the Sunni sheik's surprising support of a Shiite candidate, to concerns over ballot rigging and Iran, to the sheik's desires for a secular Iraq. Putnam sent us this audio postcard.

(12/14/05) New York State is under federal mandate to have new voting machines on line by next November's elections under the Federal Help America Vote Act. But the State Board of Elections is still trying to adopt standards for those machines. Members of the State Board got an earful at the first of three public hearings, held in Rochester yesterday. Bud Lowell at public radio station WXXI reports. more

(06/14/05) Governor George Pataki says reform of lobbying practices and crime initiatives are some of his top priorities for the legislative session, which is set to end June 23. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.

(10/28/04) The race for the 114th Assembly district has turned harsh in recent weeks, fueled by dissatisfaction with Albany and by a huge infusion of cash from the Democratic Party. Incumbent Republican Chris Ortloff and challenger Bernie Bassett have traded accusations about jobs and the dysfunctional legislature. Brian Mann reports from Plattsburgh.

(10/13/04) In the 114th Assembly District, Plattsburgh Republican Chris Ortloff faces a challenge from Democrat Bernie Bassett, a former school principal from Morrisonville. Ortloff won his last election by a three-to-one margin. But this year, Bassett has received more than thirty-five thousand dollars in financial support from the state Democratic party, which hopes to claim a second assembly seat in the North Country. As Brian Mann reports, the campaign is being shaped by deep public anger over gridlock in Albany.

(11/19/03) Good government groups continue to press for public financing of campaigns in New York. They say a survey they've done shows that currently, most donations to the state legislature come from business and union interests. Karen DeWitt reports.

(08/29/03) Advocates for the disabled are critical of a new report by the state board of elections on how to improve voter access in New York. They say the report is too vague, and may end up disenfranchising some voters. Karen DeWitt reports.

(03/05/02) Today people in Vermont will vote on local issues ranging from taxes to growth ordinances. Many will stick around their polling place for the annual town meeting. The town meeting is a Vermont tradition, mandated in the state constitution. Some call it democracy at its best. Others say the influx of newcomers and the fact that the meetings are held when many people are working make it an ailing institution. David Sommerstein was in Vermont last weekend. He asked Vermonters from Colchester, Winooski, South Hero, Hinesburg, and Burlington if they plan to go to town meeting and what issues they'd like discussed there.